Having grown up during the Cold War and visited East Berlin in 1977, I enjoyed the series. It compresses many dimensions of life in East Germany/Berlin into the different story lines, spying against the West, informing on each other, trying to win gold medals at all costs, trying to escape, etc. It's not crafted as a fast- paced thriller, but it's not intended to be.
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This decade, Germany has produced dozens of good films and series about life and habits during Cold War around FRG/GDR/West-Berlin, with versatile and intertwined plots, good character actors and apt understanding of environment and way of life. Der gleiche Himmel is another good brick in this wall, where focus is not entirely on one family, enabling to provide a broader picture of repressve, yet tragicomic life in socialist parts of Germany. The events seem realistic, perhaps the last episode rounded them up a bit hastily and "by halves" - apparently according to the filmmakers´vision. As mentioned, the cast is good as well, but here, I would like to spotlight the Swedish actress Sofia Helin as Lauren; for comparison, just watch here in "The Bridge" (Scandinavian version) and you will find out how talented and varied she is! Recommended to all those interested in German lifestyle prior to unification.
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alvktt7 July 2019This was quite a good series but at the end not a single story line was tied up. Not a SINGLE ONE!!!!! It's as if the entire series is just a set up for the next series which may not even happen, obviously. Very, very disappointed to get to the end and discover this.
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I totally like the story. Coming from the eastern part and living at least 11 years in RDA I know exactly what they are talking about. If you don't have much background information about RDA or experienced living it then sometimes I think some items need more explanation (for example when the couple with the 2 children (one of them is a swimmer) lays in bed and listens to the neighbours TV Programm. You can only hear the theme.The neighbour watches the Schwarze Kanal which was a political propaganda program in RDA). Some details are not quite true. We did not always queue to do our shopping. The queues you could mainly find when a special offer (a not every day offer like Strawberries, Cherries, Banana, Jeans etc) arrived. People waited for hours to get a limited quantity and during queueing you made friends or another kept your space while you informed your family, neighbours or friends via phone (no handy was available).
Unfortunately the part about the hormones they gave to athletes is totally true. There is a famous case about a athlete (female shotputter) who turned from woman to man. -
The show mainly revolves around Lars Weber (Tom Schilling) - A Romeo agent from East Germany sent out to seduce and retrieve information from certain female personnel of the West German government.
Though the plot seems deeply rooted in James Bond territory, the show quickly dispels this assumption by deviating from the generic alpha-male lead and instead opting for a young neophyte agent. One whose lack of experience leads him to act like an obedient schoolboy, scarcely questioning his superiors, still prone to rookie mistakes, but undoubtedly capable of maneuvering himself with impeccable finesse and apt vigilance.
Apart from Lars Weber is a multitude of well researched and astutely written characters and sub plots that successfully depict the daily struggles and momentary triumphs of Germans during the cold war. And while the story transpires in that era, many of its themes, such as the pursuit of freedom, the willingness to sacrifice oneself, or the unapologetic demonstration of fervent (albeit misguided) patriotism prove to be remarkably relevant to date.
The Same Sky is not a facile series that hinges itself on historical clichés and typical Hollywood thrills. It does not carelessly dismiss the east as a stifling communist dystopia nor does it gratify the west as a freedom-bloated paradise. Rather, it is a cleverly crafted opus that tells the story of the people of the cold war through an unbiased lens -
melberlin8918 September 2017Living in the states as a German immigrant I am always excited to find intriguing mini series like "Generation War" on platforms like Netflix. This one started of extremely promising with wonderful cinematography, great costumes, interesting characters and great acting performances. Needless to say that Tom Schilling's talent adds to any production. When I watched the last episode everything began to shatter for me. None of the character's story lines were finished, no conclusions given. If this was a continuing TV Show I could deal with this a whole lot better but so far a second season has not been confirmed. The ratings on German television were rather mediocre so I doubt we will get the answers the viewers and the show deserved.
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When we have to wait a year or more for the next season of a TV series, it would help if they wrapped up the loose ends and began the next season with a new storyline rather than leave us with a nail biting cliffhanger. By next year we will have forgotten where they left off. They could keep some of the characters non-cliffhanging threads, but leaving everything hanging in the air is frustrating to say the least, especially as there may not be another season.
SPOILER AHEAD! My other BIG criticism is the practice of German and some other European studios to only use subtitles when the characters are speaking in their own language. As someone who needs the captions as I am somewhat hearing impaired, when the characters speak English I cannot for the life of me follow what they are saying in their heavily accented English. As a result, I have no idea of a lot of the plot n in 'the Same Sky' or how it ended. I found out from reading another poster's review that Lars was the cousin of the two girls in the Eastern section, and their schoolteacher father was his uncle. OK, and seeing as his father had a photo of twin babies, he must have a twin somewhere, probably in the west. Where was his mother? Why was he brought up by his father alone?
Who were the losers building a tunnel and why? Why was the workplace informer brought into the plot? I mention these because the story was incomprehensible to me without the subtitles and a potentially good international thriller was ruined. -
resireg-314152 October 2017I just watched the series on netflix (until episode 4) and I am really hooked by the series. Essentially the main story is how much the former German Democratic Republic (communist East Germany) invested time, resources and talent to keep their crumbling regime alive. In order to silence any opposition, they employ this network of informants, whose main job is to accuse someone of being a subversive (even jokes about their leader was a crime), and they would arrest and probably torture any person caught trying to emigrate.
Despite so much oppression, life goes on, and we can see the contradictions of a communist life, where everyone is supposed to be from the same class, but families are ambitious, materialistic and competitive just like their compatriots in capitalist West Germany. There is a mother who's watching her daughter's life being ruined by the regime (they are giving her hormones and steroids to enhance her swimming performance), but she hopes that that sacrifice will Be worth if they get a larger apartment as a reward for her daughter success in sports.
My main criticism is that we have a few American and British characters, but they don't behave like either American or British and they speak German with their own children (normally you speak at home your mother tongue), besides anglos are notorious for being monolingual. Their flawless German is just not plausible.
The secret police from East Germany creates this ruthless program of strategic seduction, where agents infiltrate West Germany, and have manipulated affairs with American and British women who work for the military, and they discard them once they get all "intelligence" necessary. Watching that series makes you see how much communism relied on destroying people's lives in order to keep the system alive, but we don't see anybody happy in that country, nobody can have a normal life, and every neighbor and coworker might report you to the secret police, where you would be tortured despite being innocent.
It is very educational, I recommend the series. -
guycorhuo8 April 2017****WARNING SPOILERS****
The same sky is an interesting TV show but sometimes quite predictable. It's true that the authors unveil the (supposedly) shocking twist in the last episode (by the way, here in Spain the series has been divided in six episodes one hour long each episode) of the first season but you can guess it easily since the second or third episode. When I was watching it I thought it was going to be a mini series and all the plots were coming to an end and I discovered there was going to continue in further seasons 45 minutes into the last (and sixth) episode. I've liked it but I don't think it's so interesting to make it last more than one season. I admit that there were some story lines that I didn't understand (Why should we be interested in knowing anything else about Emil once his mother has died? What's about that eager informer from the factory?) and at the end I got that these are going to be story lines for the second season. I'm not sure whether I'll be watching it once the second season will be released because I haven't found it so thrilling to wait a whole long year but if you're interested in revisionist European TV shows based in actual events or historic periods maybe you should give it a chance. -
tammi-4226612 October 2017This is a wonderful series. Gives a good sense of the life in East Germany during the 70's. I hope that there will be an additional season. There are several stories well embroidered into each other and they keep getting interesting and intriguing. Everything is well done, the scripts, the acting, the directing, the art, the music and the costumes. I'm looking forward to see then next season.
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Just saw 2 episodes . Acting is okay but the story about eastern Germany is without any nuances. West is good and East is bad. I believe this could be better displayed.
Sofia Henlin is great again like in the Bridge -
I suppose this could be described as a six-part family drama, set on both sides of the Berlin Wall in the early 1970s. Two brothers live in the same apartment house in East Berlin: one has been raising his 25 year old son by himself; the other has two daughters, the younger being trained as an Olympic swimmer. The older brother is a weary but loyal patriot to the Marxist state (and an informer); the young brother is a schoolteacher, ambivalent and timid. On the other side of the Wall an American intelligence officer, his wife, and their daughter, will become intertwined with the family in the East when the 25- year-old, who is trained as a "romeo" spy, is told to set his sites on American woman intelligence officer.
With unflinching force, the series explores the way love can be repulsively distorted and corrupted by political pressures. (Thus lots of images of gloppy food, and crude strategies for seduction.). The irresistible metaphor (implied by the title) is that these two vastly different ideologies co-exist under the same sky, just as lovers, or, indeed, a family, can be brutally divided by different priorities and ambitions. The critique of any and all ends justifying "lofty" means falls more heavily on East Germany, of course, depicted as close to a slave state, but the series does allow space for those who remain socialist idealists to express their ill-conceived hopes too.
At times the suspense is riveting, but the writer also takes time, as well, to explore the psychological intimacies of at least half-a-dozen varied relationships, gay, straight, and familial, each affected by this East-West divide.
I liked this drama very much as it is, enough to hope there won't be a second season: the final image of this first season says everything about how family fear and dishonesty, and political subterfuge and ruthlessness, corrupt the very essence of innocent human affection and love. So in my view, nothing further needs to be seen or known . . . though a viewer is likely to be thoroughly attached to many of the characters by the end, and would, I suppose, be curious to know the aftermath of what has occurred in detail. Alas, though, very clear vectors have already been drawn. -
sanitychek14 April 2022I can understand when some shows leave an open ending but this is ridiculous! Like everyone else, i dont appreciate having to imagine at least 1/3 more of the story. I also don't like that IMDB has this as a 2017 show yet Prime video has it as 2021. It makes a difference to me. Now we know fore SURE there wont be an S2.
Anyway, it was a well-acted solid story. -
berpatcormier-123 February 2019I was actually quite enjoying it and was looking forward to see how it ended and I realized when there was about 20 minutes left of the last episode that there was no possible way the story could be wrapped up that quickly. I then assumed there must be a second season, but lo and behold, there is no second season and from what I could find out there won't be one. This isn't the first time this has happened watching a series and I can't believe I haven't learned from previous mistakes. If you want to see what life was like in East Germany during the Cold War (I can't even attest to how accurate it is) and a bit of suspense here and there I would recommend watching. If it drives you crazy to be left with all the story plot lines hanging and knowing you will never find out, then don't bother. I'm annoyed I invested almost 6 hours to be left hanging permanently.
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gandalf-8049613 August 2019It helps if one lived in the time when this takes place as that would confirm what you understood was the case, but if not it accurately shows the tense, edgy and somewhat disconcerting feel of the time - when spying was not linked simply to some international government secret but an undercover operation when certain hired people spied on family, friends, coworkers and reported them in such a way as to make them enemies of the state. in that sense it's scary because it lives on in radical political environments even today. the 'Romeo' is not what one might expect in that he doesn't seem to fit into that category, but he does well with the role. one has to remind oneself that he is the enemy preying on unsuspecting victims in the name of the state. the production itself is not necessarily the best I've seen. it has a sort of cheap feel to it, BUT it seems to work anyway. it was good enough as an entertainment that if there is a follow up season, i definitely want to see what happens.
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kaosmistress31 January 2018This is a great show with wonderful characters and story arcs. However...it was left unresolved with apparently no plans for a season two. Disappointing.
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imrujoeking22 August 2019'Come on' UFA Fiction "production company" -- produce! A second season couldn't be more manifestly merited. It is a rare season of television that can boast -- as this one indisputably does -- such skillful, intelligent development, production and execution of a story line that masterfully interweaves mounting dramatic tension with smooth, sensitive, orderly narrative development. On all fronts, Der gleiche Himmel, succeeds with distinction: concept, script writing, acting, narrative pacing, production value, cultural, social and historic intelligence and relevance, et. al. If you haven't seen it, do. If you have any affiliation with the copyright holders, prevail upon them to produce a subsequent season.
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hanscarlsen-3847526 December 2020If you never have experienced a totalitarian society you are hereby welcome to live in the DDR 1974 for a month. The series in 6 (!) episodes cover the everyday lives of two Berlin families on both sides of The Iron Curtain. During this Summer Nixon was forced to resign after The Watergate, Der Rote Armé Fraction attracted young naive teenagers in the West and the youngs in the East were filled with false propaganda about socialist superiority and their athletes stuffed with chemicals to achieve the expected successes. The DDR shocked the world by beating the world champions to be, the BRD, in the opening rounds. This is a time document of great value, slow paced, with excellent acting, though used to our Western always happy ends this one affords no such. And it is a disappointment, though closer to reality.
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angus_rodger29 November 2020Excellent reconstruction of 1970s Berlin. They must have had an immense budget for vintage cars.
Only three weaknesses:
First, the American / English characters. There are several of these. Unfortunately, they are German actors putting on very poor American accents - which is distracting and often completely incomprehensible (there are no subtitles to help). Sadly, when you can understand what these characters are saying, you realise that the English dialogue has been scripted by someone whose level of English high-school exchange at best.
Second, it is not labelled "season one". That may gives the impression that this is a complete show - but when you get to the end of the last episode, it becomes clear that this was intended to be only the first season of several. But it didn't get renewed. So don't expect any closure at all, on any of the stories. -
nawaztarah22 September 2021Unfortunately multiple blunders make this production and it's authenticity questionable. It is not as slick as Deutschland series. The stuck on side burns fall off characters faces.
However, the narrative is good. Not sure if this will return to screens but as with Deutschland it shows that the so called 'free' capitalist west is just as corrupt if not more so than the former USSR and their clampdowns on individual freedom. The west spies on its own people as well. Monitors them, 'information gathers', USA UK - re East Germany should never have been there and they aren't even their own ppl. -
rasavirtually31 December 2017Agree, this series incorporate a multitude of well-researched characters and subplots. To the credit of the creative team - the portrayal of east and west is quite balanced without dismissing the dehumanizing effects of communist dystopia. Unquestionably the portrayal is astute and brilliant of the grotesque distortion of human dignity forced by the system. In some ways this series remind me of Dante's inferno - I want to see who will have dignity in the face of adversity, how will they survive? In that respect these series are brilliant!
*Spoiler alert* In contrast some other reviewers, I do not believe in being spoon fed overdigested characters. One does not have to be a genius to understand that Sabine and Lars are twins (the same picture in Gregor Weber and Dagmar Cutter apartments). I am eager to see season 2 - one should lobe eager to see whether Lars will become a double agent. How will Lars figure out that Dagmar is his mother - will he discover his picture from Dagmar's secret chest? Gregor Weber will be in precarious situation - his petty "spying" for the system is his mandatory benevolence for his wife defecting to the West. The overzealous factory worker will likely to start reporting on Lars' father - the same way this youngster started reporting on his own family members (Stazi has converted him to a psychopath social climber, eager to please his masters). I am sure some people in the West can relate to this character.
A separate moral predicament in the subsequent season should relate to Dagmar Weber - she will regret not disclosing to her daughter Sabine their origins from East Berlin. If Sabine would have known, perhaps she would have figured and would have not committed incest with Lars. Emil Faber was the only one who have seen that Lars was seducing his mother Lauren (in the photo booth pictures from his mother's wallet).
The most surprising to me was the question by reviewer "Who are the "loosers" digging the tunnel?" It does not take a genius to notice that socialism "encase" people - a paint-red haired teenager does not fit in the predetermined ideal of socialist youth. His father (Barmann baker) would sacrifice his life to allow his son to live (otherwise his son would be in the psychiatric system or alcoholic in this environment). They are not losers - they are outcasts of socialism, who have courageous personalities (unlike sleazy insecure coward Tobias), they have a dream, Just like Axel has - they are talented personalities with dignity. What is not to understand?! -
stuartmckitrick25 November 2020Apart from the anomalies in the US military uniforms, Duncan's van also had issues. Duncan was supposedly a civilian trying to set up tours in East Berlin, yet his camper van had British Forces Germany (BFG) number plates and registration number. If he was indeed working for one of the allied powers in West Berlin, he would not have been interacting with East German border guards on crossing into East Berlin. His papers would have been checked at Checkpoint Charlie before departing the West and, if he was checked at all on crossing into East Berlin, it would have been by the Soviet authorities. He would have been restricted to travelling within Berlin City limits and could not enter East Germany proper.
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websell-8716426 May 2017Although I have to read subtitles all the time and pause sometimes because of that, I absolutely enjoyed it. Couldn't stop watching it, actors play genuinely well. I caught myself at the thought that when I looked at Tom Schilling I saw Edward Norton.
I have to admit although the TV series definitely suggest that west side is better than the east. People from the east seem more alive and genuine to me. -
crumpytv10 December 2020Shown as 6 episodes in the UK 2020. I have never seen any drama which just stops. Did they run out of money or ideas or time or what? It just ended. No storyline concluded. They were all left mid stream. It was most unsatisfactory ending and to be honest I felt cheated and regarded it as a waste of viewing time. The actual drama owed much to Deutschland 83, in fact it had some of the cast. It started off well with the mesmeric Sofia Helin (The Bridge) showing what a fine actress she is. After her demise half way through it went downhill as a compulsive drama. It was interesting but to have no conclusions there was no point. The audience were left with the suggestion that the relationship between Lars and Sabine was, unbeknown to them, incestial. All set up for the big finish ... no, just a damp squib and no signs of a second series.
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Artifam24 September 2018Sitting somewhere between Deutschland 83 and Goodbye Lenin in cinematic and thematic feel, and also in run-time as neat six-part series that offers a happy medium between a standard film and longer series. It has an engaging authenticity and the acting is solid and credible with strong performances all-round, save perhaps for some of the English (American) spoken parts sometimes sounding a touch artificial. The pace is enthralling and the story-lines are simple enough to follow, but deep enough to draw you into the moral dilemmas and stark choices that life in the GDR/DDR forced its citizens to live with. It's a incredible period in time (of modern history) that is always fascinating to re-examine in film, though often risks becoming hackneyed if not done well. However, the Same Sky does it proficiently and brings in original themes, such as the consequences of sports doping and a surprising tolerance of homosexuality in the Eastern German state. The only big criticism is that the series finishes with almost everything left up in the air, open for interpretation. It's unclear if this is intentional (I.e. as a bridge to a potential second series) or purposely framed to leave the viewer to ponder upon how the lives of the protagonists will unfold by using one's own imagination and future hindsight knowledge. The latter perhaps (although not necessarily) leads to a fatalist conclusion that none of the stories are likely have happy endings, and thus all we really need is to bear witness to those characters dealing with formidable challenges, hopes and ambiguities of those moments in time.